Electric firework igniter



Patented Feb. 20, 1923.

narran stares WILL C. NEAHB, or DENVER, COLORADO.

ELECTRIC FIREWORK' rentrer.

Application filedy February 20, 1922. Serial No. 537,887.

To all rwhom t 'may concer/a:

Be it known that I, l/VILL C. Nenne, a Citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric F irework Igniters, of which the following is a specifioation.

My invention relates to firework igniters and its principal object is to provide an electrical appliance which by the current now in an electric circuit in which it is connected, automatically ignites a pyrotechnic composition contained in a suspended cartridge which is constructed and disposed to discharge its contents in a shower of brilliant scintillations.

My invention is'partieularlyadapted for use in ceremonials, `rituals and theatrical productions, and the shower of burning particles aside from producing a pleasing and impressive spectacle, may be employed to ignite bengal-lights or other combustible comf positions placed in receptacles beneath the point at which the appliance' is suspended.

An embodiment of my inventionhas been illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding arts throughout the several views and in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional elevation of an electrical appliance conf structed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2, an underneath view of the ignition element of the same looking in the direction of the arrow A,-Figure 1, drawn to an enlarged scale;

Figure 3, a similarly enlargedvhorizontal section on the line 3 3, Figure 1;

`Figure 4, a vertical section taken on the line %4, F igure4 3; and

Figure 5, an elevation partially sectioned along the line 5-5, Figure 3. Y

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the appliance consists of a cylindrical casing 5 which at the edge of its open lower end, flares outwardly into a canopy G of comparatively large diameter, which in the operation', functions as ashield to protect the ceiling or other support from which the appliance is suspended, from the heat and re of the burning matter, and which also serves as a reector' to enhance the spectacular efIectproduced by the shower of ignited particles.

The casing is fastened to a superposed cap of non-conductive material which at oppo- ASitesides of the vertical axis. of the casing,

carries binding tive elements of an electric circuit, the leads of which have been designated in Figure 1 of the drawings, by the numerals 9 and 10. f

A porcelain holder 12v preferably composed of two axially alined sections 13 and 14, is suspended in the lower portion of. the :asing at .the end of a bolt 15 which passes through a central opening of the cap and is secured by a socket nut 16 screwedk upon its protruding upper end. n eye formed in the extended upper portion of the nut serves to suspend the casing from `a hook in a ceiling, beam or other overheadsupport.

The two sections of the vholder arel fasposts 8 by which the opera'- tened together by .a screw 17, and the holder is connected ywith thev suspension bolt through the medium of a plate 18 which is fastened on top of theuppersection by means of screws 19 and which is adjustably attached to the bolt by nuts 2O screwed on thethreaded lower end thereof'.l

The upper section of the holder carries two pairs of resilient contactvblades 211 which extend in insulated relation'to reach other into an open-ended recess of the lower section of thel same. One of the pairs of blades is connected to one of the binding posts on the cap by means of a wire 22, andthe other pair is connected at an endiof a resistance the device are connected in coil 23 placedv in the casing aroundl the suspension bolt, with its opposite end in elec trical vconnection with the other binding post.

The two pairs of Contact blades'are provided toseoure and connect in the circuit.

the element of the appliance which holds the metallic fingers 26 adapted to enter in the recess of the lower section ot the porcelain holder and between the resilient members of the contact devices 21 disposed therein. The contacts 2l rictionally engage with the fingers placed between their members and thereby serve to suspend the disk 2a and at the saine time establish an electric connection between the binding posts on the disk and those on the cap 7.

The disk is furthermore provided with oppositely arranged clips 2T o'i resilient metal which at their outer ends, are fastened against the under surface of theV same by the binding posts 25.

rlhe pyrotechnic cartridge shown partially in section in Figure t, consists of a paper shell 2S which at one endvhas a flange 28t or its suspension from the disk through the medium or' the resilient clips 27.

The shell contains a charge 29 of pyrotechnic combustibles, and at the lower end thereof, a small quantity ot black powder 30 or other readily ignitable material, and a naked ruse-'wire 3l composed of a readily melting alloy, is attached between the binding posts in contact with the lower end of the cartridge, as best shown in Figure 4L of the drawings.

When by the adjustment oll a hand switch, the normally open circuit, in which the appliance is connected, is closed, the current passing through the wire of the fuse sets fire to the inflammable substance at the lower end of the cartridge, which in turn ignites the pyrotechnic composition.

rl`he heat of combustion causes the use to melt and the burning pyrotechnic substance is discharged out of the paper shell in a spreading shower of scintillations, the brilliancy of which is enhanced by the reflective surface of the canopy.

After the display is over, the carrier is detached from the holder in the casing, and a new loaded cartridge is attached thereto by means of the clips in the place of the empty shell. l

By providing a number othese carriers, the device may be operated repeatedly in rapid succession, and by placing containers with bengel fire or other combustible substances beneath the device within the range of the falling sparks, the spectacular display of nre work may be further extended.

Having thus 'lescribed my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An electric "ire work igniter comprising a casing, a non-conductive cap at the upper end thereof, a non-conductive holder in the casing, Contact devices on the holder, binding screws on the cap in electric connection with said contact devices, a bolt connecting the cap and the holder. a cartridge-carrier, binding posts thereon, members on the carrior in electric connection with said binding posts and adapted to connect the carrier with tae holder by engagement with said Contact devices, a pyrotechnic cartridge suspended from the carrier, and a fuse on the binding posts in ignitable proximity to the cartridge.

2. An electric lire work igniter comprising in combination with an elevated holding element, a pyrotechnic cartridge connected therewith and having an outlet disposed to emit a downwardly directed shower of sparks upon ignition or its charge, an electric circuit, and a 'fuse inthe circuit, disposed on the holding element in ignitable proximity to the cartridge.

3. An electric lire work igniter comprising in combination with an elevated holding element, a pyrotechnic cartridge connected therewith and having an outlet disposed to emit a downwardly directed shower of sparks upon ignition of its charge, an electric circuit, binding posts on the holding elenent, and a fuse connecting said posts and kextending across the outlet of the cartridge.

d. Ein electric lire work igniter comprising in combination with an elevated holdingelement, a pyrotechnic cartridge connected therewith and having an outlet disposed to emit a downwardly directed shower of sparks upon ignition of its charge, an electric circuit including a resistance on the holding element, and a fuse in the circuit, disposed on the holding element in ignitable proximity to the cartridge.

5. An electric lire work igniter comprising in combination with an elevated holding element, a pyrotechnic cartridge connected therewith and having an outlet disposed to emit a downwardly `directed shower of sparks upon ignition of its charge, an electric circuit, Juse in the circuit, disposed on the holding element in ignitable proximity to the cartridge, and a canopy on the holding element, above the cartridge.

6. An electric lire work igniter comprising in combination with an elevated holding element, an electric circuit, a cartridge carrier, binding posts thereon, a fuse connected to the binding posts, a pyrotechnic cartridge having` an outlet, means on the carrier to hold the cartridge in proximity to the fuse, and conductive rastening devices on the carrier and the holding element co-operating to secure the one to the other so as to dispose the outlet ot the cartridge to emit a downwardly directed shower of sparks upon ignition of its charge, and to simultaneously connect the binding posts in the circuit.

7. An electric lire work --niter comprising in combination with an elevated holding element. an electric circuit. a cartridge carrier` binding posts thereon. a fuse connected to the binding` posts. pyrotechnic cartridge flanged at one end and having an outlet at its opposite end, clips on the carrier to hold the cartridge in proximity to the fuse by engagement with its flange, and conductive fastening devices 0n the carrier and the holding element zo-operating to secure the one to the other so as to dispose the outlet of the cartridge to emit a downwardly dibinding posts in the circuit.

In testimony whereof have aixed ymy signature.

WILL C. NEAHR. 

